Apr 06,2007 00:00 by
Cheryl McDermott The county medical examiner is on scene at the Molalla River in Clackamas County, Oregon and will take possession of a body recovered by a dive team earlier today, authorities reported.

A submerged body was reported by a local resident Thursday, April 5, about 6:30 p.m. when the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office was informed they had observed what appeared to be a mannequin or body in the river, between S. Adams Cemetery Road and S. Dickey Prairie Road.

Deputies responding to the scene in the general vicinity of 34415 S. Molalla Forrest Road determined the remains were human, and secured the site for recovery during daylight hours when recovery personnel would be safer in the 43-degree, swift-moving water.

This morning the sheriff’s office Marine Dive Team successfully recovered the body, which proved to be a more difficult task than expected due to water hydraulics and associated debris which hampered the recovery effort, deputies said.

The body, which has yet to be gender-identified, will be transported by the county medical examiner to the Clackamas office of the Oregon State Medical Examiner, who will then conduct forensic examination to determine identity and cause of death.

Deputies said that the discovery “does not appear to be associated with any automobile in the immediate vicinity”.